The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-15


when they were absent from school few
days, called to ascertain the reason.
Then he called again and he brought
books for Mrs. Carman to read. Then
they read together aud exchanged views
and in point Of fact he came to be fire.
quent visitor.
And the neighbors looked wise and
seemed to be afraid of the house where
the Caravans lived and nodded their
heads significantly when it was necessa-
ry to mention Mrs. Carman's or the
teachers name. And there seemed to be
a necessity for mentioning their names
very often. And the word got round to
the pastors ears, and he told his wife che
feared Sister Carman was cause of
stumbling and he must call and admon-
ish her."
His wife meekly inquired, "Why not
allow her course to work out its own JUS
tifcation," for she said, "some wanted an
excuse for stumbling any howl II they
didn't have Sister Carman, they would
find something else"
Sister Carman was such timid retir-
ing woman that the pastor was quite at q
loss to preface the object of his visit. He
pulled off his gloves and put them on
and pulled them off again and he was
not quite certain whether in in his en-
barrassed state of mind he p..t OH lis
hat. Finally he made bold to say.
"Sister Carman you have a noble
partner in Brother Oarman. He is dis
tinguished for his amiabliity and indus
try and he is most liberal provider."
"Oh, yes" answered Mrs. Carman with
an apprecistive twinkle in her eye,
Neither Joe nor have ever complained
of the manner in which each managed
his or her part OF the domestic economy
But you know we are told man cannot
live by bread alonep
eyes, yes, but you have more than
most to render you happy. Your hus-
band is sober and derives every pleasure
from his endeavor to make home COM
Portable"
certainly; but to us poor creatures
that know little but to delve and toll it
is delightful to read that the kingdom
of God is not meat and drink Most OF
us have aspirations beyond merely pro-
viding for the physical wants."
every true, sister, but in gratifying
these aspiration, we should be careful
not to give cause of offense."
At this point Mr.. Carman unexpected
ly arrived from the field. The pastor
under the circumstances was glad to see
him. He considered it opportune to in
clude him as listener to what he intend
ed to say.
After exchanging salutations with Joe,
the pastor found difficulty in returning
to the thread of his remarks, at least his
end of the thread seemed to be entaugled
someway.
To Mrs.. Carman, native intuition de-
fined what the pastor found it so difficult
to explain.
"Cause of otfense," she asked in sur
prise. 81 have found the principal of
the academy ready to obey the divine
injunction, Give to the poor Out of
his superior wisdom he has been able to
instruct me, thus dividing what he pos
sessed with the poor in knowledge. If it
has proved cause OF offer Sc, it is a matter
of commiseration to those alone who
spend their time in search of such cause"
Joe was dismayed at the contemplation
of true and faithful Susan, in the light
of cause of stumbling to any. For
few moments he chewed his quid OF
tobacco vigorously. Then he slowed up
and seemed to lose all consciousness OF
it and himself in thorough ct of medi-
tatiop. Then he rose decisively, and with
three lengthy strides reached the door
where he emptied his jaws of the weed
which had defiled them.
As he returned to his seat he said
"Itl be keen disappointment to some
folks to have the cause of offense remov-
ed but I'll be -" here out of defer
ence to his guest, he hesitated for dec.
orous expletive, "yes, I'll be-slapped, il
don't remove it,"
The pastor never had seen Joe more
in earnest as he continued:
'Cause can't keep up with the per-
cession of lesrning's no reason why Su-
san shan't enjoy the privilege"
Joe fumbled in his pockets and drew
out plug of chewing tobacco, bag OF
smoking tobacco and his pipe. These he
rolled in his red bandana and handed to
Susan, as he said;
"Burn that stuff up as surety that
I'll never tech tobacco again. My tobac-
co money henceforth goes to a fund to
pay for your hearing of lectsrs to find
out what 1 can't tell you. And if ever
you're the cause OF offense' again, I'll
be = slapped if 1 amt the one what's
responsible"
The pastor pursued his way homeward
thoughtful man, He was wondering
whether it would have been IS well
to follow the advice of his "helpmeet'
and wait for Sister Carman's course to
work out its own justification. He won.
dered in that case if the benefit would
have been double as it promised to
be under present circumstances. Fol
hadn't Joe promised to emancipate him.
self from bondage to a useless habit